--- title: "Karen Bass Declines House Hearing on Homelessness Funding" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-09T21:05:11.106Z" source_reported: "2026-09-09T11:08:23.000Z" updated: "2026-09-09T21:05:11.106Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-09T22:00:43.610468+00:00" --- # Karen Bass Declines House Hearing on Homelessness Funding *Mayor's office cites scheduling conflict for September 15 testimony regarding federal grants.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to a named body, but relies on anonymous sourcing for criticism. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from Bass's office and committee spokespeople, but lacks independent verification. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and language suggest evasion and scandal, overstating the substance. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Mayor Karen Bass declined an invitation to testify before a House oversight subcommittee on September 15. - The subcommittee is investigating potential waste, fraud, and abuse of federal homelessness grants administered by LAHSA. - Bass's attorney stated she was unavailable but her office is reviewing requested records. - The committee criticized Bass for not appearing, claiming homelessness has worsened under her leadership. Mayor Karen Bass has declined to testify before a House oversight subcommittee that is examining federal funding for homelessness in Los Angeles. The hearing was scheduled for September 15. Bass's attorney, David Michaelson, stated in a letter that the mayor was unavailable for the date. The subcommittee, chaired by Representative Tim Burchett, is investigating potential waste, fraud, and abuse concerning federal grants administered through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Michaelson also indicated that Bass's office is reviewing records sought by the committee and intends to provide them. LAHSA continues to receive significant funding from the City of Los Angeles, although this support was reduced by 40% in the latest budget, amounting to $496 million. ## Disagreement on homelessness trends The committee criticized Mayor Bass for not appearing at the hearing. A spokeswoman stated that homelessness has worsened under her leadership. However, Bass's office disputes this characterization, with city officials reporting an 11% decrease in homelessness since 2023 and crediting her 'Inside Safe' program with housing approximately 6,000 individuals. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention the 40% cut to LAHSA's funding from the City of Los Angeles in the latest budget, which totals $496 million. The centre-rated reports included this detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 12% (2) - Right: 88% (14) 1 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-09T22:00:43.610468+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-09T22:30:30.557Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Both centre-rated reports highlighted Mayor Karen Bass's declination to testify before a House subcommittee regarding federal homelessness funding in Los Angeles. They noted the subcommittee's focus on potential waste, fraud, and abuse related to grants managed by LAHSA. Both reports included statements from Bass's attorney, David Michaelson, explaining her unavailability for the September 15 hearing and confirming her office's review of requested records. Internewscast also detailed that the committee planned to proceed with its hearing without the mayor and mentioned specific examples of concerns regarding LAHSA contracts, including one involving the former CEO's husband. News Facts Network reported that Bass's office disputes the committee's characterization of worsening homelessness under her leadership, citing a reported 11% decrease in the city. ### Right - Thirteen right-rated reports focused on Mayor Karen Bass's refusal to testify before Congress. Many described her action as avoiding or dodging the hearing, with headlines using terms such as 'walks away,' 'won't testify,' 'snubs Congress,' and 'avoids testifying.' Several reports, including those from WND and wndnewscenter.org, quoted a sentiment that taxpayers need to understand where money has gone and why the problem appears to worsen despite significant spending. The Gateway Pundit used the headline 'Lock Her Up: Radical LA Mayor Karen Bass Refuses to Appear Before House Panel.' The New York Post's headline stated the mayor 'gives the middle finger to DOGE panel.' The American Tribune referred to Bass as the 'Notorious Sanctuary City Mayor.' The reports consistently mentioned the $1 billion in federal funds being investigated and linked the inquiry to alleged 'waste, fraud, and abuse' at LAHSA. The Post Millennial quoted a committee spokeswoman stating, 'It’s a shame Mayor Bass is afraid to come testify about her policies that have increased homelessness in Los Angeles and enabled a culture of corruption.' **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 2 - low: 4 - mixed: 8 - high: 2 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [patriotnewsfeed.com](https://patriotnewsfeed.com/karen-bass-walks-away-from-congress-over-1-billion-waste-inquiry) — Karen Bass Walks Away From Congress Over $1 Billion Waste Inquiry - Patriot Newsfeed - [OpsLens](https://opslens.com/1-billion-scandal-with-homeless-funding-and-l-a-mayor-karen-bass-wont-testify-worldnetdaily-by-bob-unruh) — $1 billion scandal with homeless funding, and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass ‘won’t testify’ * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/usa/2026/09/08/2577371.html) — IT'S OFFICIAL: LA Mayor Karen Bass just suspiciously RAN AWAY from House DOGE Chair Rep - [Newsmax](https://newsmax.com/politics/karen-bass-los-angeles-homeless/2026/09/08/id/1268749) — Karen Bass Declines House Hearing on LA Homelessness Spending - [WND](https://wnd.com/2026/09/1-billion-scandal-homeless-funding-l-mayor-karen) — $1 billion scandal with homeless funding, and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass ‘won’t testify’ * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh - [wndnewscenter.org](https://wndnewscenter.org/1-billion-scandal-with-homeless-funding-and-l-a-mayor-karen-bass-wont-testify) — $1 billion scandal with homeless funding, and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass ‘won’t testify’ * WND News Center - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/karen-bass-office-claims-shes-not-available-to-testify-at-house-hearing-on-la-homelessness-agency) — Karen Bass office claims she’s ‘not available’ to testify at House hearing on LA homelessness agency - [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/house-oversight-committee-calls-la-mayor-karen-bass-dodges-testifying-hearing) — House Oversight Committee Calls Out LA Mayor Karen Bass After She Dodges Testifying at Hearing - [News Facts Network](https://newsfactsnetwork.com/local-news/karen-bass-declines-house-testimony-on-los-angeles-homelessness-spending) — Karen Bass Declines House Testimony on Los Angeles Homelessness Spending - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4716945/bass-refuse-testify-los-angeles-homeless-congress) — Bass refuses to testify on Los Angeles homelessness before Congress - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/lock-her-up-radical-la-mayor-karen-bass) — Lock Her Up: Radical LA Mayor Karen Bass Refuses to Appear Before House Panel and Answer Questions About Wasted Federal Funds * The Gateway Pundit * by Mike LaChance - [U-S-NEWS.COM](https://u-s-news.com/politics-karen-bass-avoids-testifying-in-washington-on-homelessness) — POLITICS: Karen Bass avoids testifying in Washington on homelessness - [RedState](https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/09/07/talk-to-the-hand-karen-bass-snubs-congress-too-busy-to-explain-where-all-the-money-went-n2206628) — Talk to the Hand: Karen Bass Snubs Congress, Too Busy to Explain Where All the Money Went - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/doge-homeless-fund-probe-stalls-as-karen-bass-cant-testify) — DOGE Homeless Fund Probe Stalls as Karen Bass Can’t Testify - [frontpageindex.com](https://frontpageindex.com/2026/09/nbc-4-la-mayor-bass-not-available-to.html) — NBC 4: L.A. Mayor Bass 'Not Available' To Testify Before House Sub-Committee In Spending Of Federal Funds On Homelessness - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/07/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-unable-to-testify-in-doge-homeless-fund-probe) — Exclusive | Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass gives the middle finger to DOGE panel over LAHSA funding - [The American Tribune](https://theamericantribune.com/notorious-sanctuary-city-mayor-faces-congressional-scrutiny-over-a-billion-wasted-taxpayer-dollars) — Notorious Sanctuary City Mayor Faces Congressional Scrutiny Over A Billion Wasted Taxpayer Dollars - The American Tribune.com ## Questions **Why did Mayor Karen Bass decline to testify before Congress?** Mayor Karen Bass declined an invitation to testify before a House oversight subcommittee on September 15, citing unavailability for the hearing. Her office stated that she is reviewing records requested by the committee. **What is the House subcommittee investigating?** The House oversight subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Tim Burchett, is examining potential waste, fraud, and abuse involving federal grants administered through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). **What is the status of LAHSA's funding?** LAHSA continues to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from the City of Los Angeles. However, that support was sharply cut by 40% in the latest budget, reducing it to $496 million. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Karen Bass Declines House Hearing on Homelessness Funding", https://mediabias.news/politics/karen-bass-declines-house-hearing-on-homelessness-funding